Home
Discover Islam
Quran Recitations
Lectures
Fatwa
Articles
Fiqh
E-Books
Women
Boys & Girls 
Enter Question
View By Subject
Fatwa Of The Week
Selected Fatwa
Fatwa CenterReconciling questioning of Judgment Day with Quran 55:39
Question
Assalaam alaikum Regarding the verses from quran "So on that Day he will not be questioned about his sins, (neither) human nor Jinn" and the narration which states “The son of Adam will not pass away from Allah until he is asked about five things: how he lived his life, and how he utilized his youth, with what means did he earn his wealth, how did he spend his wealth, and what did he do with his knowledge.” How do we reconcile this, will they be questioned or will they not be questioned
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad 
is His Slave and Messenger.
People being questioned over their actions in the Hereafter is confirmed in Quran and Sunnah texts, like the Hadeeth which you mentioned in the question, and like the verse in which Allaah says (what means): {And stop them; indeed, they are to be questioned.”}[Quran 37:24] Allaah also says (what means): {So by your Lord, We will surely question them all. About what they used to do.}[Quran 15:92-93]
However, there are two types of questions: an interrogative question (for information) and a reproaching question (for condemnation).
Allaah questioning His creation on the Day of Judgment is not for the sake of seeking information or asking to know about something He does not know, as He is the All-Knower, and He is the One Who knows the actions of His Creation before they happen, while they happen and after they happen. Rather, Allaah will ask them a question to condemn and censure, and it is this kind of questioning (condemnation) that is confirmed in these texts.
It is a question of inquiry that is negated in the saying of Allaah (which means): {Then on that Day none will be asked about his sin among men or jinn.}[Quran 55:39]
Similar to that is the saying of Allaah (which means): {But the criminals, about their sins, will not be asked.}[Quran 28:78] This is what Shaykh Al-Ameen Ash-Shinqeeti said in Adhwaa’ Al-Bayaan.
The other view is that they will not be questioned at the beginning and then they will be questioned later. Al-Jassaas said: “The saying of Allaah {Then on that Day none will be asked about his sin among men or jinn}, it was said about it that the question posed to them is not interrogative (for inquiry), but rather a question of confirmation and condemnation, and it was said about it that they will not be questioned when they first appear on the Day of Judgment because of their amazement and confusion but they will be questioned at another time.”
Allaah Knows best.
Search Fatwa
Fatwa Subject
